{Remember: if you leave a comment on this or any post, I will donate a dollar to the funds-needing Louisville Public Library!}

This is kind of one of those cheatery posts in which I refer you to something else, but something is going on right now that I so enjoy that I can’t help but refer you to it.

You may have heard of the Morning News’s Battle of the Books, in which 16 books compete in March Madness style for the winner.  School Library Journal is doing the same for children’s books. 

I so enjoyed last year’s, not just because I got all but one right (I never succeed in predictions like this), but because the judges, all seriously honored authors, share such intricate, thoughtful reasons for preferring one book over another.  I am a judgmental reader, to be sure, and to be honest, I feel like my opinions have sound reasoning.  But hearing what these veteran authors think–authors who have been writing ten times as long as I have, who have served on award committees and seen all kinds of things come and go–always opens up my brain to different kinds of judging.  They make me want to read more widely, write more widely, and become a part of  The Conversation. 

For this week’s reading pleasure, here’s Julius Lester on why he chose the magnificent Tales From Outer Suburbia  by Shaun Tan over Newbery Medal Winner When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  People are pretty shocked.  When You Reach Me was the only book I can remember that earned Newbery buzz early on, retained it, and won with great enthusiasm–so little of the grousing you might hear when a surefire winner walks away with the prize.  People just love this book, but Lester chose the graphic novel, and I think his reasons are compelling and thought-provoking.

Also, you should read both of these books!  http://ow.ly/1qnFD